Thelma Mae (Goodman) Reeder

Thelma Mae Reeder, 81 of Big Level, passed away on March 30, 2022 at Ashbury Hospice House in Hattiesburg. She was born October 05, 1940 in Seventy-Six, Missouri, the second of four children to Henry and Ethel Mae (Rynes) Goodman. She grew up in that area and spent lots of time with family. Her family was all musically inclined and spent lots of time on the porch playing and singing. She also enjoyed the outdoors, hunting with her grandfather and fishing with her dad. Thelma met a young Army soldier, Art Reeder, at her grandmother's funeral service. They were married just fourteen days later, and spent the next forty-eight years together. They made their home in the St. Louis area, and between the two of them, had thirteen children. Their youngest had asthma pretty bad, and the family doctor advised them to move to a high-humidity climate for his health, so Art moved the family to Mississippi. Thelma spent her life raising and taking care of her children and the family home. She is fondly remembered as a loving mother who wasn't afraid to discipline her kids when necessary. An excellent cook, Thelma wasn't one to use boxed items. She made everything from scratch, including cakes, pies and pie crusts, dumplings, dressing, and so much more. In her spare time, she enjoyed quilting and cross-stitching, and raising her Chihuahuas. And of course, a trip to the casinos where she like to eat and play a few slots while there, was always in order. Otherwise, you would normally find her at home, taking care of her house and babies. But she was always happiest when surrounded by her family. Thelma was a wonderful sister, wife, mother and grandmother, and will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved her. She was preceded by her parents, Henry and Ethel Goodman, her loving husband, Art Reeder, her daughter Joyce Parnell, her brothers Glen and Ronald Goodman, and her sister, Henrietta Glover. Left to cherish her memories are: her adoring children: daughter Tanya Henske, and sons Bobby, Charlie, Richard, Tommy, Orville, and David (Kwana) Reeder, with Doyle (April) Baker. Thelma leaves a long legacy of fifteen grandchildren, sixteen great-grands, along with numerous extended family and friends from Missouri to Mississippi. Funeral services locally will be held Thursday, April 7th at Trinity Funeral Services in McHenry. Visitation will begin at 12:00 noon, followed by a chapel service at 2:00 PM. Afterward, Thelma will be transferred to St. Louis, MO for final services at Kutis Funeral Homes at 10151 Gravois Road on April 12th, 2022, with interment beside her husband in Our Redeemer Cemetery afterward, also  in St. Louis. Trinity Funeral Services is honored to serve the Reeder family in their time of need, and asks everyone to keep the entire crew in your thoughts and prayers over this trying time.